Diacetylene diol derivatives and process for preparing the same

ABSTRACT

Novel 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosa-11,13-diin-10,15-diol derivatives. Such derivatives are prepared by oxydative coupling of 3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-1-in-3-ol derivatives or by ethynylation of 6,10-dimethylundecan-2-on derivatives with diacetylene and used as starting materials for preparing squalane.

United States Patent Nishida et al.

1 51 Dec. 2, 1975 Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd., Japan Filed: Mar. 6, 1974 App]. No.: 448,700

Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 19, 1973 Japan 48-32274 U.S. Cl 260/676; 260/682 Int. Cl. CO7C 9/00; CO7C 5/02 Field of Search 260/676, 683.9, 682

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,992,278 7/1961 Tedeschi 260/682 3203998 8/1965 House ct a1 260/617 3379766 4/1968 Hwang ct 211.... 260/593 3.794.692 2/1974 Komatsu ct 260/677 R 3.801.668 4/1974 Komatsu et al. 260/677 R Primary ExaminerDelbert E. Gantz Assistant E.raminer luanita M. Nelson Attorney, Agent, or FirmFlynn & Frishauf s7 ABSTRACT Novel 2,6,10.l5.l9,23-hexamethyltetracosa-l 1,13- diin-l0,l5-diol derivatives. Such derivatives are prepared by oxydative coupling of 3.7,l1-trimethyldodeca-l-in-3-ol derivatives or by ethynylation of 6.,lO-dimethylundecan-Z-on derivatives with diacetylene and used as starting materials for preparing squalane.

13 Claims. N0 Drawings DIACETYLENE DIOL DERIVATIVES AND PROCESS FOR PREPARING THE SAME This invention relates to methods for the industrial preparation of squalane. More particularly, this invention relates to new intermediates for preparing squalane and new methods for preparing the same and squalane.

The intermediates according to this invention have the following formula (I):

wherein R and R are the same or different and represent saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon residues having 11 carbon atoms represented by the following carbon atom skeleton:

and may be substituted by radicals capable of being replaced by hydrogen atoms upon hydrogenolysis.

According to this invention, the intermediataes (I) can be prepared by the following methods:

a. a reaction of a C -ketone having 13 carbon atoms represented by the following formula (II) (hereinafter referred to as C -ketone) or its mixture:

wherein R and R are the same as above with diacetylene according to the usual method.

b. an oxydative coupling method of a monoacetylene alcohol represented by the following formula (III) or its mixture (hereinafter referred to as monoacetylene alcohol):

(31 CH3 R-(|I-C 2 CH or R'-C-C E CH (Ill) OH on wherein R and R are the same as above by the usual method.

According to this invention, squalane can be prepared by the following methods using the intermediates (I) as starting materials:

c. a hydrogenolysis method of the intermediates (I) d. a method which comprises hydrogenation of the intermediates (I) to give the unsaturated compounds having the same carbon skelton as the intermediate and having hydroxy radicals but no triple bonds and then submitting the above resultant to hydrogenolysis.

An object of this invention is to provide a industrial preparation of squalane,

A further object of this invention is to obtain squalane inlow costs and industrial scale.

Another object of this invention is to provide the new intermediates (I) for preparing squalane.

A still further object of this invention is to provide methods for preparing the intermediates (1).

A particular object of this invention is to provide methods for preparing the intermediates (I) using usual available substances as starting materials by the usual method.

All other objects of this invention will in part be obvious from the contents of the specification hereinafter disclosed.

As is known, squalane, 2,6,l0,l5,l9,23-hexamethyltetracosane is used as additive or base of several cosmetics because of its characteristics of cleaning action for skin and its penetrating action to skin. Also it is a useful material as a lubricant for precision machines. It has now been prepared by hydrogenation of the squalene portion obtained from sharks liver oil; its preparation using industrial products as starting material has almost never been tried. A method for preparing hydrocarbons having about 30 carbon atoms from a low polymer product of isoprene has been proposed; but this method gives several isomers having different skeletons and a mixture of products having different molec ular weight; even if this mixture contains squalane, it is impossible to separate squalane from it.

According to this invention, squalane can be prepared: (c) by hydrogenolysis of the intermediates (I); or (d) by partial hydrogenation and then hydrogenolysis of the intermediates (I). Therefore, the methods for preparing the intermediates (I)v will be explained in details at first.

As has been already described, the intermediates have the following formula:

CH CH OH OH wherein R and R are the same as above defined.

As radicals capable of being replaced by hydrogen atoms upon hydrogenolysis, R and R may be substituted by, for example, hydroxy radical, alkoxy radical, oxygen atom =O), halogen atom (chlorine atom, bromine atom et a1), amino radical, imino radical, hydrazino radical, nitro radical, thionyl radical, sulfinyl radical, sulfonyl radical and the like. But in view of the industrial preparation, available easiness and costs of starting materials, easiness of the preparation of the compounds (I) or their mixtures and easy transformation of the compounds into squalane, R and R having no substituent above mentioned may be preferred.

The intermediates (I), as already described, can be prepared:

a. by reacting the C ketone (II) having the following formula:

R-C-CH or R' C CH (in II ll 0 0 wherein R and R are the same as above with acetylene; or

b. by coupling a monoacetylene alcohol (III) or its mixture having the following formula:

R -CECH or R CECH (Hi) C ketones (11) which may be used industrially and usefully are, for example, geranyl acetone, hexalydropseudoionone, 6, 1 O-dimethylundeca-5,l 1,-dien-2-one, pseudoionone, citronellidene acetone, dihydrocitronellidene acetone et al. These ketones can be prepared on a industrial scale and at a comparative low price by the following method. For example, geranyl acetone can be prepared industrially by Carroll rearrangement reaction of linallol with acetoacetic acid ester. Hexahydropseudoionone can be easily obtained by hydrogenation of geranyl acetone or pseudoionone. 6,10-Dimethylundeca-5,lO-dien-2-one can be easily prepared by partial hydrogenation of 3,7-dimethylocta-7-en-l-in-3-ol obtained by the method of W. Hoffmann et al. (Ann. 60 (1971) to 3,7-dimethylocta-1,7-dien-3-ol and then by Carroll rearrangement reaction of the resultant with acetoacetic acid ester in the same manner as in linallol. Pseudoianone, citronellidene acetone and dihydrocitronellidene acetone can be prepared respectively by aldol condensation of citral, citronellal and tetrahydrocitral with acetone.

Alldol condensation of hydroxycitronellal or alkoxycitronellal with acetone in place of citronellal gives corresponding compounds (11). In general, these hydroxy or alkoxy citronellal can be prepared from citronellal itself and these compounds cannot be preferred to citronellal; these compounds result in only an increase in reaction step.

Diacetylene which is reacted with the C -ketone (11) has never been used usefully and has been thrown away as by-product in acetylene preparation; so it can be available at a low price.

The monoacetylene alcohols (111) can also be prepared by the reaction of the compounds (11) with acetylene by the same method for preparing the compounds (1) which comprises reacting the compounds (11) with diacetylene, which will be described in details hereinafter. By ethynylation of several compounds (11) with acetylene, the corresponding compounds (III) can be prepared. The compounds (111) having several kinds of substituents can be prepared from the compounds (11) having several kinds of substituents. But as above mentioned, using industrially available compounds (11) is preferred. For example, 3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-6,10- dienl -in-3-ol, 3 ,7,1 1-trimethyldodeca-6,1 'l-dien-l-in- 3-01 and 3,7,1 l-trimethyldodeca-1-in-3-ol can be easily prepared by ethynylation of geranyl acetone, 6,10- dimethylundeca-5,10-dien-2-on respectively with acetylene. And these compounds are preferred compounds among the compounds (111) according to this invention.

Upon reaction of the compounds (11) with diacetylene, known methods for preparing acetylene alcohols can be applied broadly. The preferred methods according to this invention are as follows: (1) the method of reaction of the compounds (11) with Grignard compound of diacetylene in such a solvent as diethyl ether which is used in the general Grignard reaction; (2the method of reaction of the compounds (11) with diacetylide made by passing diacetylene into the liquid ammonia solution made by dissolving alkali metalor alkaline earth metal such as lithium, sodium, potassium or calcium in liquid ammonia; (3) the method of reaction of the compounds (11) with diacetylene in the presence of 4 an alkaline metal in liquid ammonia or in an organic solvent (for example, the reaction of (II) with diacetylene in the presence of potassium hydroxide or sodium amide and the like in such a solvent as ether or tetrahydrofuran).

Upon oxydative coupling reaction of the compounds (111), known oxydative coupling reaction can be applied broadly. Thepreferred methods according to this invention are as follows: (4) the method comprising adding a solution of the compound (III) in such a solvent soluble in water as ethanol, acetone or tetrahydrofuran to an aqueous solution of monovalent copper salt such as cuprous chloride and ammonium chloride and oxydative coupling of the compound (III) in an oxygen atmosphere; (5) the method comprising adding the compound (III) to a solution of a monovalent copper salt such as cuprous chloride in a solvent such as pyridine or picoline and oxydative coupling of the compound in an oxygen atmosphere; (6) the method comprising adding the compound (III) to a solution of bivalent copper salt such as cupric acetate in a solvent such as pyridine or picoline.

In the above method (4), a small amount of hydrochloric acid, cupric chloride or ammonia may be added to this system for promotion of the reaction. Also in the above method (6), a reaction promoting agent such as tetramethylethylenediamine may be added and a mixture of pyridinewith methanol, ether or acetone may be used.

Representatives of the compounds having formula (1) according to this invention are as follows:

1. 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosa-2,6,18,22-

tetraene-l 1,13-diin-lO,15-diol 2,6,10,15 ,l9,23-hexamethyltetracosa-18,22- diene-l1,13-diin-10,l5-diol 3. 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosa1,6,18,22-

tetraene-l 1 ,1 3-diin- 10,1 S-diol 4. 2,6,10,l5,19,23-hexamethyltetracosa-2,6,8,18,22-

pentaene-l 1,13-diin-10,15-diol 5. 2,6,10,15,l9,23hexamethy1tetracosa-2,8,18,22-

tetraene-l 1,13-diin-lO,15-diol 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosa-8,18,22- triene-l 1 ,13-diin-10 ,15-diol 7. 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosa-1 1,13-diin- 10,15-diol 8. 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosa-1,6-diene- 2,8,16,18,22pentaene-11,l3-diin-10,15-diol 9. 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosa-2,6,8-

triene-l 1,1 3-diin- 10,15-diol l0. 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosa-2,8-diene- 11,13-diin-10,15-diol l 1. 2,6,10. 15 ,19 ,23-hexamethyltetracosa-8-ene- 1l,13-diin-10,15-diol 12. 2,6,10,l5,l9,23-hexamethyltetracosa-l,6,18,23-

tetraene-l 1 ,13-diin-10,15-diol 13. 2,6,l0,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosa- 2,6,8,18,23-pentaene-l 1,1 3-diin-10,15-diol l4. 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosa-2,8,18,23-

tetraene-l l,13-diin-10,l S-diol 15.

triene-l 1,13-diin-10,1 5-dio1 16. 2,6,1(),15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosa- 2,6,8,16,18,22-hexaene-1l,13-diin-l0,l5-diol 17. 2,6,10,l5,19,23-hexamethyltetracosa- 2,8,16;18,22 pentaene-l l,13-diin-lO,15-diol l8. 2,6,10,15,l9,23-hexamethyltetracosa-8,16,18,22

tetraene-l 1 ,13-diin-10,15-diol 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosa-8,18,23-

19. 2,6,l0,l5,19,23-hexamethyltetracosa-2,8,16,22-

tetraene-l 1,13-diinl O, l S-diol 20. 2,6,10,15,l9,23-hexamethyltetracosa-8,16,22-

triene-l 1,l3-diin-10,l S-diol 21. 2,6,10,14,19,23-hexamethyltetracosa-8,16-

diene-l l,l 3-diin-10, l 5-diol Squalane can be prepared by hydrogenolysis of the compound (1) obtained by the above methods. Hydrogenolysis can be carried out at higher temperatures by adding an acidic material to the usual hydrogenation system.

The catalysts used to hydrogenolysis are metal catalysts such as nickel, palladium, and platinum or these metal compounds or catalysts in which these catalyst components are supported on a suitable carrier. The hydrogenolysis using such catalysts can be carried out, for example, by the following methods:

7. the method being carried out in an organic carboxylic acid. Organic carboxylic acids used for this method are preferred to be acetic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid or isolactic acid. These acids can be used in combination with higher acidic acid such as a-halogenated fatty acid or a-hydroxy fatty acid 8. the method being carried out in an inert organic solvent in the presence of an acidic substance.

Organic solvents used for this method are preferred to be saturated hydrocarbons such as hexane, heptane, cyclohexane, ethylcyclohexane, decaline, hexadecaline and squalane. Aromatic hydrocarbon, cyclic ether, ester, ketone, alcohol (especially tertiary alcohol) are preferred to be avoided at the conditions of the reaction, because these solvents could cause hydrogenation, ring-opening, hydrolysis, dehydration and the like, depending upon the reaction conditions. Acidic sub stances are preferred to be Brosted acids such as sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, perchloric acid and boric acid; Lewis acids such as zinc chloride, and boron trifluoride; hydrogen salts of strong acid and strong base such as sodium hydrogen sulfate, sodium hydrogen phosphate and potassium hydrogen phosphate; salts of strong acid and strong base such as magnesium sulfate, zinc sulfate, calcium sulfate, copper sulfate, and magnesium chloride; solid acids such as silica alumina, alumina, and solid phosphoric acid; and organic acids such as acetic acid, formic acid, monochloroacetic acid and lactic acids.

Upon hydrogenolysis of the compounds (1) by the above method, combination of a catalyst with an acidic substance or combination of catalyst, with acidic substance and solvent is preferred to be such that the catalyst is not poisoned in part by acidic substance and/or solvent. The hydrogenolysis methods to be especially recommended from this reason and from the point of view of using industrially economic catalysts are as follows:

9. a method to be carried out in the presence of nickel or palladium catalyst supported on a carrier (for example, nickel catalyst supported on diatomaceous earth, palladium catalyst supported on active carbon and the like) or in the presence of a salt of strong acid and strong base or solid acid in the absence of a solvent or in an inert solvent; a method to be carried out in the presence of a palladium catalyst supported on a carrier such as active carbon in an organic acid or in a mixture of an organic acid and an inert organic solvent being stable in the said organic acid.

The hydrogenolysis of the compounds (1) by means of the above methods is carried out in liquid phase at higher temperatures. The reaction temperature is pre ferred to be over about C, especially at temperatures from to 300C. This reaction can be carried out at atmospheric pressure butit is preferred to be carried out at a high pressure of hydrogen and usually hydrogen pressures of about lOl00 kg/cm (G) are used. An amount of catalyst used varies with a kind of the catalyst, but it is generally in the broad range of about 0.1 10 %/w against the weight amount of the compound (1).

According to this invention, squalane can be prepared by means of another method. This method con sists of two step reactions contrary to the above method. One step consists of mild partial hydrogenation of the compounds (1) resulting in the compounds having double bonds but no triple bonds that is, it consists of partial hydrogenation of only triple bonds con tained in the compounds (I). Another step consists of hydrogenolysis of the above resultants resulting in squalane. That is, this step consists of replacing hydroxy radical or other radical as above mentioned with hydrogen and completing hydrogenation of the remaining unsaturated bonds contained in the above resultants and resulting in squalane.

The above method consisting of direct hydrogenolysis of the compounds (I) to squalane is liable to produce by-products considered to be skeleton isomers of squalane, because the compounds (I) are subject to rearrange under drastic conditions owing to triple bonds contained in the compounds (I). The byproducts are so difficult to separate from squalane that this method is defective in obtaining pure squalane. But the method consisting of two step reaction does not produce such by-products as above mentioned and can prepare purer squalane in a good yield.

With respect of partial hydrogenation, metal catalysts such as nickel, cobalt, palladium, platinum, rhodium, and iridium or their compounds or these catalysts supported on a suitable carrier may be used as hydrogenation catalysts. Especially, the catalysts which have strong hydrogenating activity and are preferred from the aspect of economy are Raney nickel, Raney cobalt or palladium on active carbon, barium sulfate or calcium carbonate. The hydrogen pressure in the reaction suffices to be below 100 kg/cm and the hydrogenation may be carried out at atmospheric pressure. The hydrogenation reaction is preferred to be carried out in a suitable solvent because of high viscosity of the compounds (I). Any organic solvent of such a kind that does not hinder hydrogenation is used. These solvents are, for example, aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, ethers, esters, alcohols and organic car-v boxylic acids, but amines and compounds containing sulfur are not preferred. An amount of solvent used suffices to be at least the same amount of the compound (I) but it may be better below the same amount, provided the catalyst used is satisfactorily dispersed.

Thus, squalane can be obtained by submitting the above partial hydrogenation products of the compounds (I) to hydrogenolysis. The conditions of this hydrogenolysis are almost the same as those of the above direct hydrogenation; therefore their details will be omitted for prevention of duplication but they will be obvious from the contents of the specification herein disclosed.

With respect to the preparation of squalane from the compounds (I), besides the methods according to this invention, a method comprising hydrogenation of the compounds (I), a dehydration and hydrogenation, or a method comprising transformation of the compounds (I) to saturated diol compounds,'and hydrogenolysis can be considered; but according to the present inventors experiments, squalane can be prepared in a better yield by the methods of this invention.

The following examples are given to further illustrate the present invention. The scope of the invention is not, however, meant to be limited to the specific details of the examples.

EXAMPLE 1 In a 5-1. three-necked, and round-bottomed flask were placed 114.7 g of 3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-6,ldien-l-in-3-ol, 305.9 g of ammonium chloride, 765 ml of water and 76,5 ml of ethyl alcohol and the mixture was stirred at a room temperature by passing oxygen for 18 hours. After completion of the reaction, no starting material remained. The reaction mixture was centrifuged and was extracted with benzene. The organic layer was distilled off to remove benzene and ethyl alcohol. The residue was dissolved in benzene and washed with water. The benzene solution was dried over anhydrous calcium sulfate and the solid material was filtered off. The benzene solution thus obtained was distilled off to give 107.8 g of 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosa-2,6,l 8,22-tetraene-l l, l 3-diin- 10, l diol as viscous liquid. This substance was further dissolved in ml of benzene, treated with active carbon and purified by distilling the benzene.

Elementary analysis for C 0H4 O2 Calculated: C; 82.14, H; 10.57, 0; 7.29.

Found: C; 81.86, H; 10.33, 0; 7.58.

That this compound is 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosa-2,6,18,22-tetraene-1 1,13-diin-10,15-diol was identified by means of the following method:

In 20 ml of acetic acid was dissolved 2 g of this compound and 0.2 ml of 3NHCl and 0.2 g of 5 palladium on active carbon were added thereto. The mixture was hydrogenated at a hydrogen atmosphere of atmospheric pressure for 18 hours. Gas chromatography, NMR spectra and mass spectra of the main product showed that it is identical with available squalane. The theoretical amount of the hydrogen absorption was 1021 ml but its amount found was 1040 ml.

EXAMPLE 2 In a l-l. three-necked and round-bottomed flask were placed 10.5 g of 3,7,1l-trimethyldodeca-l-in-3- 01, 5.0 g of ammonium chloride, 12.0 g of te'tramethylethylenediamine and 675 ml of pyridine. The mixture was reacted at temperatures of 5055C for 6 hours under an oxygen atmosphere. After completion of the reaction, the alcohol as a starting material was not detected. After distillation of pyridine from the reaction mixture, 300 ml of benzene and 200 ml water were added to the residue and after decantation, the organic layer was washed with 3N-I-l SO and then water and dried. The benzene solution was distilled off to give 8.55 g of 2,6,l0,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosa-1 1,13- diin-10,l5-diol as viscous liquid. This compound was treated with active carbon and purified in the same manner as in example 1.

Elementary analysis for C H O2 of this purified compound Calculated: C; 80.65, H; 12.18, 0; 7.16.

Found: C; 80.46, H; 12.05, 0; 7.21. That this compound is the object compound was identified by the fact that the mass analysis of this compound showed M being 446 and that this compound gave squalane upon hydrogenolysis in the same manner as in example 1 EXAMPLE 3 This example was worked out in the same manner as in example 2 except that 10.1 g of 3,7,ll-trimethyldodeca-6,l l-dien-1-in-3-ol was used in place of 3,7,1 1- trimethyldodeca-1-in-3-ol and 8.34 g of 2,6,10,15 ,I9,23-hexamethyltetracosa-1,6,18,23-tetraene-l1,13-diin-l0,l5-diol was thus obtained.

Elementary analysis for Gaol-1 0 Calculated: C; 82.14, H; 10.57, 0; 7.29.

Found: C; 82.04, H; 10.35, 0; 7.59. That this compound is the object compound was identified by the fact that it gave squalane on hydrogenolysis in the same manner as in example 1.

. EXAMPLE 4 In a 2-1. three-necked and round-bottomed flask were placed 220 g of 3,7,1l-trimethyl-6,l0-dien-1-in- 3-ol, 1 g of copper acetate, 20.2 ml of pyridine and 440 ml of n-heptane. The mixture was stirred at temperatures of 60-70C for 5 hours by passing oxygen. The reaction mixture was washed with a 3NH SO., -solution and then with a 10 aqueous sodium chloride solution respectively three times and the n-heptane was distilled off to give 348 g of a crude product. A g portion of this crude product was placed in a 500 ml autoclave and 200 ml of n-heptane, 1.8 g of nickel catalyst supported on diatomaceous earth which is roughly the same amount as that of nickel and 3.6 g of silicaalumina (alumina: 28-30 were added thereto. The mixture was subjected to hydrogenolysis at a temperature of 200C under a hydrogen pressure of l00-20 kg/cm with stirring for 16 hours. After filtering off the catalyst and distilling off the n-heptan e, the residue was distilled off at 202208C under reduced pressure of 0.3-0.4 mml-Ig to give 45.0 g of squalane.

EXAMPLE 5 In a 500-ml autoclave 40 g of 6,10-dimethylundecan- 2-one, 30 g of a 10 solution of diacetylene in N- methylpyrrolidone and 200 ml of liquid ammonia were placed and the mixture was reacted at 20C for 1 hour. After purging out ammonia, 200 ml of n-heptane was added to the residue and the mixture was washed with water and a crude product was obtained by distilling off the n-heptane. That the main components of the crude product are 6,l0-dimethylundeca-2-one of the starting material and 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosa- 1 1,l3-diin-10,15-diol obtained by example 2 was identified by means of gel parmeation chromatography (for the compounds of low molecular weight).

The crude product obtained by the above ethynylation was placed in a 300 ml shaking type Hastelloy autoclave (Hastelloy is the trade name of nickel alloy manufactured by Haynes Stellite Co.) and further 100 ml of acetic acid, and 0.6 g of 5 Palladium on active carbon were added thereto. The mixture was shaked at 200C under a hydrogen pressure of 100 50 kg/cm for 16 hours. Gas chromatography showed that this reaction mixture contained 19.4 g of squalane.

EXAMPLE 6 In a 300-ml shaking type l-lastelloy autoclave 20.0 g of 2,6,10,l5,19,23-hexamethyltetracosa-2,6,l 8,22- tetraene-l 1,13-diin-10,15-dio1 obtained by the same method as in example 1, 40 ml of benzene and 1.0 g of 5 palladium on carbon were placed and the mixture was subjected to hydrogenolysis at 200C under a hydrogen pressure of 100 kg/cm for 16 hours. Gas chromatography and NMR analysis showed that there remained no compound having unsaturated bonds and hydroxy radicals and the starting material was almost transformed into squalane.

EXAMPLE 7 In a 500 ml shaking type glass autoclave 10.0 g of 2,6,10,15 19 ,23-hexamethyltetracosa-2,6 ,18,22-tetraene-l1,13-diin-l0,15-dio1 obtained in the same manner as in example 1,100 ml of acetic acid and 1.0 g of 5 palladium on active carbon were placed and the mixture was subjected to hydrogenolysis at 150C under a hydrogen pressure of 5 kg/cm for 16 hours. An analysis of the crude product thus obtained showed that there remained no unsaturated compound and the main components consist of squalane and 2,6,10, 1 5,19,23-hexamethyltetracosan-10-01 besides lower boiling substances and the area ratio of the former to the latter is 93:7 by means of gas chromatogra- EXAMPLE 8 In a 21. autoclave 11 of liquid ammonia and 7 g of lithium were placed and 25 g of diacetylene was added thereto. To this solution 192 g of pseudoionone was added dropwise and reacted at 15C for 5 hours. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was cooled and neutralized by adding ammonium chloride. After purging liquid ammonia, the residue was dissolved in 11 of n-hexane and 11 of water. After decantation, the organic layer was washed with water several times and, then the n-hexane was distilled off to give 200 g of the crude product.

A 100 g portion of the crude product, 100 ml of acetic acid and 1.0 g of 5 palladium on active carbon were placed in a 500-ml shaking type glass autoclave. The mixture was subjected to hydrogenolysis at 150C under a hydrogen pressure of 5 kg/cm for 16 hours. An analysis of the crude product showed that there remained no unsaturated compound and the crude product consists of mainly squalane and 2,6,10,15,19,23- hexamethyltetracosan-10-o1.

EXAMPLE 9 In a 3-1 round-bottomed flask was placed about 21 of liquid ammonia and by adding 7 g of lithium and then passing acetylene gas thereto, lithium acetylide was prepared. To this solution 192g of pseudoionone was added and the reaction mixture was subjected to reaction under reflux of ammonia for 8 hours by passing a little amount of acetylene. After completion of the reaction, ammonium chloride was added to neutrize the reaction mixture and after purging the liquid ammonia, the residue was dissolved in 1 l of n-hexane and 11 of water and decanted. The organic layer obtained was washed with water several times and the n-hexane was distilled off to give 265g of a crude product. The crude product was subjected to oxydative coupling reaction to give. 426 g of a crude product in the same manner as 10 in example 4 except that the crude product was used in place of 3 ,7,1 l-trimethyldodeca-6, l O-dien- 1 -in-3-ol.

The crude product thus obtained was subjected to hydrogenolysis in the same manner as in example 8 to give a mixture of squalane and 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosan- 10-01.

EXAMPLE 10 The ethynylation of 194 g of citronellidene acetone with diacetylene was worked out in the same manner as in example 8 except that citronellidene acetone was used in place of pseudoionone and 268 g of a crude product was thus obtained.

In a 500-ml shaking type (glass autoclave a 10 g portion of the crude product, ml of acetic acid and 1.0 g of 5 palladium on active carbon were placed and the mixture was subjected toreaction at C under a hydrogen pressure of 5 kg/cm for 16 hours. An .analysis of the crude product obtained showed there remained no unsaturated compounds and the crude product consists of mainly squalane and 2,6,10,15,19,23- hexamethyltetracosan-l 0-01 besides lower boiling compounds.

EXAMPLE 1 l The ethynylation of 194 g of citronelliden acetone with acetylene was worked out in the same manner as in example 9 except that citronellidene acetone was used in place of pseudoionone and 278 g of a crude product was obtained. This product was subjected to oxydative coupling and hydrogenolysis in the same manner as in example 9 and squalane was thus obtained.

EXAMPLE 12 The ethynylation of 212 g of 6,10-dimethylundeca-3- en-2-on-10-ol obtained by aldol condensation of hydroxycitronellal and acetone with acetylene was worked out in the same manner as in example 9 except that hydroxycitronellal was used in place of pseudoionone and 269 g of a crude product was thus obtained.

The crude product was subjected to oxydative coupling in the same way as in example 4 except that it was used in place of 3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-6,IO-dienl-in-3-ol and 442 g of a crude product was thus obtained.

In a 300 m1 autoclave 20 g of this crude product, 0.2 g of nickel on diatomaceous earth (nickel content: about 50 0.4 g of silica-alumina catalyst and 80 ml of n-heptane were placed and the mixture was subjected to reaction at 230C under a hydrogen pressure of 80-100 kg/cm for 16 hours to give squalane.

EXAMPLE 13 In a 1-1 three-necked and round-bottomed flask 10.1 g of 3,7,1l'trimethyldodeca 6,l1-dien-l-in-3-ol, 5.0 g of cuprous chloride, 12.0 g of tetramethylethylenediamine and 675 m1 of pyridine were placed and the mixture was subjected to reaction at temperatures of 50-55C under an oxygen atmosphere for 6 hours. After completion of the reaction there remained no starting alcohol. The pyridine was distilled off from the reaction mixture and the residue was dissolved in 300 ml of benzene and 200 m1 of water and after decantation the organic layer was washed with a solution of 3N-H SO and then with water and dried. The benzene solution was distilled off to give 8.34 g of 2,6,10, 15 ,l9,23-hexamethyltetracosa-1,6,18 ,23'tetraene- 11 l1,13-diin-10,l5-diol. This product was purified with active carbon treatment and analyzed.

Elementary analysis for C:m -m -z (7 Calculated: C: 82.14, H: 10.57, 0: 7.29. Found: C: 82.04, H; 10.35, 0: 7.59.

EXAMPLE 14 In a 2-1 three-necked and round-bottomed flask 220 g of 3,7,1l-trimethyldodeca-6,11-dien-1-in-3-ol, 9.1 g of copper acetate, 20.2 ml of pyridine and 440 ml of nheptane were placed and the mixture was subjected to reaction at temperatures of 60-70C for hours by passing oxygen and was washed with a 3N-l-I SO solution and with a aqueous solution of sodium chloride respectively three times. The n-heptane was distilled off to give 348 g of a crude product.

In a 300ml autoclave a 100 g portion of this crude product, 3.6 ml of Raney nickel (about 2.5 g) and 100 ml of n-heptane were placed and the mixture was hydrogenated at room temperatures under a hydrogen pressure of l00-50 kg/cm for 16 hours. The reaction temperature rose to a maximum temperature of about 55C owing to heat of reaction. After the reaction, the Raney nickel was filtered off and the n-heptane was distilled off from the mixture -to give 70.8 g of viscous brown liquid. Investigation with C -NMR spectra confirmed qualitatively that this liquid has no triple bond and that some parts of the double bonds were hydrogenated, but a considerable amount of the double bonds remained.

This liquid was dissolved in 100 ml of isolactic acid and 1.5 g of 5 palladium on active carbon was added thereto. This solution was placed in a 300-ml l-lastelloy autoclave and caused to react at 200C under a hydrogen pressure of 100-50 kg/cm for 16 hours. The catalyst was filtered off and the reaction mixture was distilled under reduced pressure to give 33 g of squalane.

A 100 g portion of the above oxydative coupling product was caused to react in 100 ml of acetic acid in the same manner as above mentioned and 41.2 g of squalane was obtained by distillation. Investigation by gas chromatography (column: Diasolid M 2 Carbowax 20 M 2 cm; temperature of measurement: 240C) of this squalane showed that there is a substance having a sharp shoulder peak next to that of squalane. The structure of the substance showing this peak is not clear but that this substance is a saturated hydrocarbon is concluded by means of measurement of iodine number, infrared spectra and C NMR spectra of this compound and therefore this substance seems'to be a byproduct which has a cyclized structure of squalane.

The above mentioned product in which the triple bonds were in advance removed by partial hydrogenation has not such a shoulder peak.

EXAMPLE In a 200-ml autoclave 40 g of 6,10-dimethylundeca- 5,lO-dien-2-on,30 g of a 10 diacetylene solution in N-methylpyrrolidone, 1.5 g of potassium hydroxide and 200 ml of liquid ammonia were placed and the reaction was caused to react at C for 1 hour. After removal of ammonia by purging, 200 ml of n-heptane was added to the residue and washed with water. The n-heptane was distilled off to afford a crude product. That the principal components of the crude product are 6,10- dimethylundeca-5,10-dien-2-on of the starting material and 2,6,l0,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosa-l,6,18,23- tetraene-l 1,13-diin- 10,15-diol obtained by example 13 was confirmed by means of gel permeation chromatography (Column for low-molecular compounds). The crude product obtained by the above ethynylation was placed in a 300ml shaking type autoclave and 40 ml of n-heptane and 0.8 g of 5 palladium on active carbon were added thereto. The mixture was caused to react at temperatures from room temperature to 60C under a hydrogen pressure of 50-l00 kg/cm for 16 hours. The crude product obtained had no triple bond but some double bonds. By adding further 20 ml of acetic acid to the above reaction system, the mixture was caused to react at 200C under a hydrogen pressure of 50-100 kg/cm for 10 hours. That 20.5 g of squalane having no shoulder peak as described in example 14 was obtained was confirmed by means of gas chromatography.

EXAMPLE 16 In a 500-ml autoclave 13.2 g of 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyl-tetracosa-2,6,l 8,22-tetraen-l 1,13-diin-10,1 5- diol obtained in the same manner as in example 1, about 0.65 g of 5 palladium on active carbon, 100 ml of benzene were placed and the mixture was caused to react at 50C at a hydrogen pressure of 4-6 kg/cm for 6 hours. The catalyst was filtered out and the benzene was distilled off. That the crude product obtained had no triple bond but some double bonds was confirmed. To this crude product 100 ml of n-heptane, 0.40 g of nickel on the same amount of diatomaceous earth as that of nickel and 0.80 g of silica-alumina catalyst (alumina: 28-30%) were placed and the mixture was caused to react at 220C under a hydrogen pressure of 50-100 kg/cm for 2 hours. Investigation by means of gas chromatography showed that there was obtained 11.0 g of squalane. The squalane had no shoulder peak as described in example 14.

EXAMPLE 17 In a 500 ml-autoclave 87.8 g of 2,6,10,15,l9,23-hexamethyltetracosa-2,6, l 8 ,22-tetraene- 1 1 ,13-diin-10,15-

diol obtained in the same manner as in example 1, 2.6 g of Raney nickel and 200 ml of n-heptane were placed. The mixture was caused to react at temperatures from room temperature to 60C under a hydrogen pressure of 50-l00 kg/cm for 3 hours. After removal of the catalyst, the n-heptane was distilled off to afford 10.4 g of a crude product having double bonds but no triple bond.

To a 100-ml autoclave 10.2 g of the crude product, 40 ml of n-heptane, 0.2 g of nickel on diatomaceous earth and 1.0 g of zinc sulfate were placed. The mixture was caused to react at 200C at a hydrogen pressure of 100 kg/cm for 16 hours to afford 2.3 g of squalane.

EXAMPLE 18 This example was worked out in the same manner as in example 17 except that 1.0 g of calcined gypsum was used in place of zinc sulfate and 7.4 g of squalane was obtained.

EXAMPLE 29 In a 2-1. autoclave ll of liquid ammonia, 17 g oflith- I ium and 25 g of diacetylene were placed. To this solution 192 g of pseudoionone was added dropwise with stirring and caused to react at 15C for 5 hours. After completion of the reaction, the mixture was cooled and neutralized by adding ammonium chloride. After purg ing ammonia, the residue was dissolved in 11 of N-hexane and-1 l of water. After decantation the organic layer 13 was washed with water several times and the hexane was distilled off to afford 200 g of crude product.

In a 300-ml autoclave 100 g portion of the crude product, 3.6 ml of Raney nickel (about 2.5 g) and 100 ml of n-heptane were placed. The mixture was caused to react at a room temperature under a hydrogen pressure of 50-l00 kg/cm The reaction temperature in the reaction system rose to a maximum temperature of about 58C owing to heat of reaction. After shaking for 16 hours, the Raney nickel was filtered off and the heptane was distilled off from the mixture to afford 108 g of crude product having no triple bond.

In a 100-ml autoclave 10.2 g of the above crude product, 40 ml of n-heptane, 0.2 g of nickel on diatomaceous earth, and 1.0 g of zinc sulfate were placed and the mixture was caused to react 200C at a hydrogen pressure of 8090 kg/cm for 16 hours and 2.5 g of squalane (2,6,10, 1 5 19 ,23-hexamethyltetracosane) was thus obtained.

EXAMPLE 20 In a 3-1 round-bottomed flask was placed about 21 of liquid ammonia and by passing acetylene thereto after addition of lithium, lithium acetylide was prepared. After addition of 192 g of pseudoionone, this solution was caused to react under reflux of liquid ammonia for 8 hours by passing a little amount of acetylene. After the reaction, the solution was neutralized by adding ammonium chloride and after purging ammonia, the residue was dissolved in 11 of n-hexane and 11 of water. After decantation, the organic layer was washed with water several times and 265 g of a crude product was thus obtained.

The crude product was subjected to oxydative-coupling in the same manner as in example 14 except that it was used in place of 3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-6,10- dien-1-in-3-ol and 426 g of a crude product was thus obtained. A 100 g portion of the product was placed in a 500 ml autoclave and subjected to hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis in the same manner as in example 14 to give 21 g of squalane.

EXAMPLE 21 in place of pseudoionone and 268 g of a crude product was thus obtained.

In a 300 ml autoclave 100 g of the crude product, 3.6 ml (about 2.5 g) of Raney nickel and 100 ml of n-heptane were placed and the mixture was caused to react at a room temperature under a hydrogen pressure of 50-100 kg/cm The reaction temperature rose up to a maximum temperature of about 56C. After shaking for 18 hours, the Raney nickel was filtered off and the heptane was distilled off to afford 112 g of a crude product having double bonds but no triple bond.

In a 100-ml autoclave 10.2 g of the crude product, 40 ml of n-heptane, 0.2 g of nickel on diatomaceous earth and 1.0 g of zinc sulfate were placed and the mixture was caused to react at 200C under a hydrogen pressure of 8090 kg/cm for hours to give 3.2 g of squalane (2,6, 10,1 5, l9,23-hexamethyltetracosane).

EXAM PLE '22 Ethynylation of 194 g of citronelliodene acetone was carried out with acetylene in the same manner as in example 20 except that citronellidene acetone was used 14 in place of pseudoionone and 278 g of a crude product was thus obtained. This product was subjected to oxydative-coupling, hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis in sequence in the same manner as in example 20 and squalane was thus obtained in a yield of 36.3 from citronellidene acetone to squalane.

EXAMPLE 23 Ethynylation of 212 g of 6,l0-dimethylundeca-3-en- 2-on-1020 obtained by aldol condensation of hydroxycitronellal and acetone was carried out in the same manner as in example 20 except that hydroxycitronellal was used in place of pseudoionone and 269 g of a crude product was thus obtained.

The crude product was subjected to oxydative-coupling reaction in the same manner as in example 14 except that it was used in place of 3,7,1l-trimethyldodeca-6,l0-dien-1-in-3-ol and 442 g of a crude product was thus obtained. (I In a 300 ml round-bottomed flask a 50 g portion of the product, 50 ml of n-heptane and 5 g of 5% Lindlar catalyst were placed and the mixture was caused to react at 50C under normal atmospheric pressure for 8 hours. That the product thus obtained had almost no triple bond but only double bonds was confirmed by means of its C -NMR spectra. After filtering off the Lindlar catalyst, the product was placed in a 300-ml autoclave and the hydrogenolysis catalysts used in example 16, 1.5 g of nickel on diatomaceous earth and 3 g of silica-alumina catalyst, were added thereto. The mixture was caused to react at 230C under a hydrogen pressure of -100 kg/cm for 5 hours. That the product thus obtained contained 14.2 g of squalane was confirmed by means of gas chromatography.

What is claimed is:

l. A process for preparing squalane which comprises submitting a compound having the general formula:

CH H

wherein R and Rare the same or different and represent saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon residues having 11 carbon atoms represented by the following carbon atom skeleton:

C C l l C CCC-CCCC- and may be substituted by a radical capable of being replaced by a hydrogen atom upon hydrogenolysis in the presence of an acidic substance.

2. A process for preparing squalane as claimed in claim 1 in which the hydrogenolysis is carried out at temperatures from to 300C under a hydrogen pressure of 10-l00 kg/cm 3. A process for preparing squalane as claimed in claim 1 in which a metal catalyst selected from nickel, palladium, platinum, rhodium or iridium or its compound or the metal catalyst supported on a suitable carrier is used as a catalyst.

4. A process for preparing squalane as claimed in claim 1 in which the acidic substance is an organic acid.

5. A process for preparing squalane as claimed in claim 4 in which the organic carboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid or isolactic acid or used in a combination of one of the said acids and a fatty acid having higher acidity, preferably a-halog'enofatty acid or ahydroxyfatty acid.

6. A process for preparing squalane as claimed in claim 1 in which the hydrogenolysis is carried out in an inert organic solvent.

7. A process for preparing squalane as claimed in claim 1 the hydrogenolysis is carried out in the presence of an acidic substance selected from the group consisting of a Bronsted acid, a Lewis acid, a hydrogen salt made from a strong acid and a strong base, a salt of a strong acid and a weak base or a solid acid.

8. A process for preparing squalane which comprises submitting a compound having the general formula:

wherein R and R have the significance given in claim 1 to partial hydrogenationto obtain a compound having the same carbon skeleton which has no triple bond but has double bonds and hydroxy radicals and then submitting the above resultant to hydrogenolysis.

9. A process for preparing squalane as claimed in claim 7 in which the partial hydrogenation is carried out at temperatures from room temperature to about 60C under a hydrogen pressure of 10-l00 kg/cm in the presence of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of Raney nickel, Raney cobalt and palladium on active carbon or barium sulfate or calcium carbonate.

10. A process for preparing squalane as claimed in claim 7 in which the hydrogenolysis is carried out at temperatures from 100 to 300C under a hydrogen pressure of l0-l00 kglcm 11. A process for preparing squalane as claimed in claim 7 in which the hydrogenolysisls carried out by using a metal catalyst selected from the group consisting of nickel, palladium, platinum, rhodium, irridium and a compound thereof unsupported or supported on a suitable carrier in the presence of an acidic substance.

12. A process for preparing squalane as claimed in claim 7 in which the hydrogenolysis is carried 'out in an organic carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid, isolactic acid and a combination of the said acid and a higher carboxylic acid or a a-hydroxyfatty acid.

13. A process for preparing squalane in claimed as claim 10 in which the acidic substance is selected from the group consisting of a Bronsted acid, a Lewis acid, a hydrogen salt made from a strong acid and a strong base, a salt made from a strong acid and a weak base,

and a solid acid.

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. I 3,923,918 Q DATED December 2, 1975 lN\/ ENTOR(S) I TAKASHI NISHIDA et al It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 16, Claims 9, 10, 11 and 12: in line 2 of each i claim, after "claim", replace "7" with 8 Signed and Scaled this [SEAL] w yy f September 1976 Arrest:

C. MiSON C. MARSHALL DANN es mg Officer Commissioner ufPatenrs and Trademarks PAGE ONE OF TWO PAGES UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION- PATENT NO. 1 3,923,918 v 9 DATED December 2, 1975 INVENTOR(S) TAKASHI NISHIDA et al It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Title page, at [75] replace "Yoshim Tamai" with Yoshin Tamai and replace "Kazno Itori" with Kazuo Itoi Title page, at [30] under "Mar. 19, 1973 Japan. 48-32274",

insert Jan. 14, 1974 Japan ..497268 and Jan. 14, 1974 Japan 49-7269 q Title page, at [56] delete all references cited (none was cited during prosecution of the application) Column 3, line 19: replace "Ann. 60" with Ann. 1Q 60 a Column 3, line 62: replace "(2the" with (2) the Column 4, line 41: replace "23hexa..." with 23-hexa...

Column 4, line 48: delete "2,8,16,18,22 pentaene".

Column 5, line 5: replace "2,6,l0,l4,19,23" with 2,6,l0'l5yl9y23 o Column 12, line 60: replace "EXAMPLE 29" with EXAMPLE l9 Column 14, line 10: replace "2-on-l020" with 2-on-10-ol 8 PAGE TWO OF TWO PAGES UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3,923,918 9 DATED December 2, 1975 lNV ENTOR(S) I TAKASHI NISHIDA et al It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 15, line 14, and Column 16, line 27:

replace "Bronsted" with BrgzSnsted f. Signed and Scaled this Twentieth Day of July 1976 [SEAL] Arrest:

RUTH C. MASON c. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer (ommixsiuner oj'PaIents and Trademarks UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION JPATENTT N0. 3 923 91s DATED 1 December 2, 1975 rrNvzNroms) TAKASHI NISHIDA et a1 Alt is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent hereby corrected as shown below:

Cover Page, Left Column, Lines 1 and 2: Delete 54] DIACETYLENE DIOL DERIVATIVES AND PROCESS FOR PREPARING THE SAME", and in its place insert -[54] PROCESS FOR PREPARING SQUALANE-.

Cover Page, Right Column delete the entire ABSTRACT and in its place insert Process for preparing squalane by submitting 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosa-l1,l3- diin-lO,15-dio1 derivatives to hydrogenolysis in the Stigma andv Scaled this presence of an acidic substance.-

Twenlyxecand D a a March I983 ISEALI GERALD J. MOSSINGIIOF F awni 01 Commissioner of Patents and Trademark: 

1. A PROCESS FOR PREPARING SQUALENE WHICH COMPRISES SUBMITTING A COMPOUND HAVING THE GENERAL FORMULA:
 2. A process for preparing squalane as claimed in claim 1 in which the hydrogenolysis is carried out at temperatures from 100* to 300*C under a hydrogen pressure of 10*100 kg/cm2.
 3. A process for preparing squalane as claimed in claim 1 in which a metal catalyst selected from nickel, palladium, platinum, rhodium or iridium or its compound or the metal catalyst supported on a suitable carrier is used as a catalyst.
 4. A process for preparing squalane as claimed in claim 1 in which the acidic substance is an organic acid.
 5. A process for preparing squalane as claimed in claim 4 in which the organic carboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid or isolactic acid or used in a combination of one of the said acids and a fatty acid having higher acidity, preferably Alpha -halogenofatty acid or Alpha -hydroxyfatty acid.
 6. A process for preparing squalane as claimed in claim 1 in which the hydrogenolysis is carried out in an inert organic solvent.
 7. A process for preparing squalane as claimed in claim 1 the hydrogenolysis is carried out in the presence of an acidic substance selected from the group consisting of a Bronsted acid, a Lewis acid, a hydrogen salt made from a strong acid and a strong base, a salt of a strong acid and a weak base or a solid acid.
 8. A process for preparing squalane which comprises submitting a compound having the general formula:
 9. A process for preparing squalane as claimed in claim 7 in which the partial hydrogenation is carried out at temperatures from room temperature to about 60*C under a hydrogen pressure of 10*100 kg/cm2 in the presence of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of Raney nickel, Raney cobalt and palladium on active carbon or barium sulfate or calcium carbonate.
 10. A process for preparing squalane as claimed in claim 7 in which the hydrogenolysis is carried out at temperatures from 100* to 300*C under a hydrogen pressure of 10*100 kg/cm2.
 11. A process for preparing squalane as claimed in claim 7 in which the hydrogenolysis is carried out by using a metal catalyst selected from the group consisting of nickel, palladium, platinum, rhodium, irridium and a compound thereof unsupported or supported on a suitable carrier in the presence of an acidic substance.
 12. A process for preparing squalane as claimed in claim 7 in which the hydrogenolysis is carried out in an organic carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid, isolactic acid and a combination of the said acid and a higher carboxylic acid or a Alpha -hydroxyfatty acId.
 13. A process for preparing squalane in claimed as claim 10 in which the acidic substance is selected from the group consisting of a Bronsted acid, a Lewis acid, a hydrogen salt made from a strong acid and a strong base, a salt made from a strong acid and a weak base, and a solid acid. 